Stanisic turns down Sockers

November 17, 1990|By Bill Free

Scoop Stanisic has turned down a contract offer from the San Diego Sockers because, he said yesterday, "It was not enough to make it worthwhile to go out there."

"San Diego has made me an offer, but it is not acceptable," said Stanisic, a goalkeeper who was released by the Baltimore Blast on Nov. 8. "They said they couldn't give me any more because of the salary cap [$635,000 for a Major Soccer League team]."

Stanisic, 27, is a fifth-year player in the MSL and would command at least $25,000 for one season.

San Diego probably offered Stanisic somewhere around $15,000, the same amount it is paying rookie goalkeeper Chris Wilson, who is on the developmental squad.

San Diego has been going with one goalkeeper, Victor Nogueira, this season. Wilson would be placed on the regular Sockers' roster if Nogueira were injured.

Stanisic talked to Sockers coach Ron Newman outside the San Diego locker room Nov. 9 after the Sockers had beaten the Blast, 8-7, at the Baltimore Arena.

Newman said after the conversation that he "would like to sign Scoop, but I don't see how we can do it because of the salary cap. We would have to release some veteran players to do it."

Stanisic said he most likely would play this season in the indoor National Professional Soccer League, formerly the American Indoor Soccer Association. He added that his agent, Ron Blavatt, who also represents Blast goalkeeper Scott Manning, is negotiating with some NPSL teams.

Stanisic played for the Hershey Impact in the AISA two seasons ago before he was signed by Baltimore.